Free-standing orthopedic urgent care coming to Chelsea

OrthoExpress will open an orthopedic urgent care clinic in Chelsea on March 1.

A new free-standing orthopedic urgent care clinic is set to open in Chelsea.

OrthoExpress is set to open in the former Lemak Health building, located at 104 Chelsea Pointe, on March 1.

The clinic will offer urgent care specifically for orthopedic injuries, according to a press release, including fractures, dislocations and sprains. It will be open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday from 1-6 p.m.

“We’re excited to be opening our first clinic right here in Alabama,” said Bryan Wimbish, the clinic’s care provider. “It’s too difficult for patients to get afternoon and evening appointments for their orthopedic injuries, and too expensive to seek treatment in the Emergency Room. We will be here to provide convenient access to our patients, and help expedite their care to another specialist or service when additional treatment is required.”

OrthoExpress is set to act as a “gateway to care,” according to the release, rather than an extension of a regular practice. Many times, patients want a diagnosis for their injury as a way to determine if they need immediate attention or complex treatment, Wimbish said.

The location will have four employees and plans to add more support staff later this year, according to the release. This will be the first OrthoExpress in Alabama, and more locations are planned for Central Alabama.